General Practice Activity - Two Reports

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) has released two reports dealing with general practice:

General practice activity in Australia 2009-10 - presents results from the twelfth year of the BEACH program (Bettering the Evaluation And Care of Health), a national study of general practice activity. From April 2009 until March 2010, 988 general practitioners recorded data about 98,800 GP patient encounters involving the management of 155,373 problems. For an 'average' 100 encounters, GPs recorded 107 medications, 35 clinical treatments, 18 procedures, 9 referrals to specialists and 4 allied health services, and ordered 45 pathology and 10 imaging tests. (AIHW catalogue no. GEP27)

General practice activity in Australia 2000-01 to 2009-10: 10 year data tables - presents results from the most recent 10 years (April 2000 to March 2010) of the BEACH program. During this time 9,842 GPs provided details of almost 1 million GP patient encounters. It is possible to review changes which have occurred over the decade in the characteristics of general practitioners and the patients they see; the problems managed; and the treatments provided. Changes in patients' body mass index, smoking status and alcohol use are described for a subsample of adult patients. (AIHW catalogue no. GEP28)